In 2015, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Byron Jones was the team’s top draft pick in his first NFL training camp.

Two years later, Jones is one of the secondary’s most experienced players after an offseason which saw four longtime veterans, Barry Church, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox, sign with other teams.

The defections led Dallas to spend two of its first three picks in the 2017 on defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdain Lewis, turning Jones from a promising youngster into a veteran leader.

“You look back there and I am one of the older guys, one of the most experienced guys besides Orlando (Scandrick) and Jeff Heath,” Jones said. “So as an older guy who has been here three years, I am going to try and step up and lead these young guys.

“We have a good group of young guys. They are smart and they are talented. They just need a leader.”

Jones was considered one of the team leaders while at the University of Connecticut, but more as a lead-by-example player than a vocal presence.

In the NFL, Jones knows being a leader means speaking up and letting his younger guys know what they need to be doing.

Throughout the first week of training camp in Oxnard, Jones has made sure to continually ask the rookies if they understand what they are doing and if they need any help in deciphering what their roles are in various coverages.

“I enjoy it,” Jones said of his leadership role. “I am one of those guys who usually lead by example so to push myself and lead by voice as well is good for me.

“And it helps me, too. Every time you explain something to younger guys, it gives you a better idea about what you are explaining.”

Head coach Jason Garrett said as Jones has grown as a player he’s gotten more comfortable communicating with teammates on the field.

“He’s doing a good job of taking charge of the back end,” Garrett said. “Byron has always been someone who embraced everything about this game. He loves to play. He loves to practice. He has been such a great example to everyone since Day 1. But when some of those more veteran players leave, particularly at your position group, there becomes a void. And with that void comes an opportunity.”

“He has all the leadership traits you want. Very experienced player coming out of UConn and his character was off the charts. A guy you really want to thrust into those roles and he’s embraced the role this offseason.”

During his workout at the NFL Combine, Jones impressed teams with his athletic ability, including recording a mark of 12 feet, 3 inches in the broad jump and a vertical leap of 44.5 inches.

Because of his athletic ability, the Cowboys opted to play Jones at both cornerback and safety during his rookie season. While the double duty was challenging, Jones said it gave him a solid foundation to now direct teammates from his free safety spot.

“Having experience at different positions gave me an overall view of what the secondary is doing and what the defense is doing,” Jones said. “It kind of gives you everything on a grand scheme.”

Jones had a solid second season, making 102 tackles, including three tackles for loss, and compiling 10 passes defensed while grabbing his first career interception.

Jones is hoping to use his playmaking skills to create more takeaways this season.

“I did a decent job tackling, did a good job covering, but now I want to start making those big plays and interceptions,” Jones said. “We, as a unit, want to create more turnovers. When the ball is in the air, it’s as much the defense’s ball as the offense’s ball. So when the ball is in the air, it’s our mentality to go get it.”

Jones went and got it during Saturday’s practice, when he used his speed to race back into the end zone and jumped high to snag the ball from the receiver.

Secondary coach Joe Baker knows the defense will be counting on Jones this season.

“He brings the right attitude and makes a lot of plays. We are going to ask him to step up," Baker said.

While the Cowboys are coming off a 13-3 record in the regular season, Jones said last season doesn't matter now. It’s all about creating a new identity this season.

“Guys have been training for months to come out here and build something as a team,” Jones said. “And that is really special. As a young team last year I think we understood how small the margin of error is.

“So our main focus is getting better every day and understanding what we need to do to accomplish that goal.”